Known for their work as members of 10,000 Maniacs, John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey appear live (mostly) as a duo, a sharp contrast to their full-blown band recordings. On "Peace Bridge," their latest album under the name John & Mary and the Valkyries, Lombardo and Ramsey touch on the same pop territory as their former group, which makes sense considering that Lombardo was a primary songwriting force in that band. (Ramsey is still an active member.) In person, however, the duo leans towards a more rootsy sound that emphasizes the sparer aspects of Ramsey's voice and violin playing. Their constant movement between these two states makes for an intriguing live experience where you definitely won't get a carbon-copy of the studio recordings.

John & Mary

Friday, September 4

Village Gate Courtyard, 274 N Goodman St

6 p.m. | Free | 271-3354